Name: Retro Film Review: A Cool, Dry Place (1998)
Item: A Cool, Dry Place
Rating: 50
Author: @drax

(source:tmdb.org)

In 1990s Hollywood tried to give impression of embracing feminism by having "strong independent" female protagonists in the military, law enforcement and other traditionally male professions. On the other hand, this reversal of gender roles seldom affected male protagonists - only few had to deal with situations traditionally associated with opposite sex. One of such rare examples could be found in A Cool, Dry Place, 1998 drama directed by John N. Smith.

Protagonist of this film, based on Michael Grant Jaffe's novel Dance Real Slow, is Russell Durrell (played by Vince Vaughn), attorney who used to have well-paid job in prestigious Chicago law firm. More than year ago his wife Kate (played by Monica Potter) left him and their young son Kevin (played by Bobby Moat). Russell, unable to reconcile demands of his career with single parenthood, lost his job and moved to small Kansas town. There he practices law in small firm and works as part-time school basketball coach. He gradually begins to get used to new situation, especially after he started romance with Beth (played by Joey Lauren Adams), attractive local veterinarian. But his new-found happiness is endangered with the arrival of Kate who wants her son back.

Single fathers aren't very common protagonists in Hollywood films, so comparisons with Benton's Kramer vs. Kramer are unavoidable. There are some differences between two films - semi-idyllic rural surrounding is put to good use and protagonist's professional and romantic dilemmas provide good drama. Vince Vaughn, actor who is hardly in the same league with Dustin Hoffman, handles his role very well. He is very convincing as a man who tries to do the best for his son and also has to deal with his short temper. Joey Lauren Adams, one of the unjustifiably underused actresses of late 1990s, is very good in the role than goes beyond standard love interest. Monica Potter is also good in the role of film's villain. A Cool, Dry Place could have been much better with slightly tighter pacing and with less drowning in sentimentalism. The characters are adult and realistic, they are played by competent actors and their dilemmas are something many viewers could identify with. Although watchable and in many ways entertaining, A Cool, Dry Place should have been remembered for its quality rather than its unusual subject.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on September 8th 2004)